What is Mind Lab?
Mind Lab is an innovative and proven curriculum designed to teach students ages 4-14 HOW to think through interactive play. We use a series of international board games carefully selected to teach the fundamentals of strategy, problem solving, decision making, teamwork, communication, and the art of graceful winning and losing. Our games appeal to children's hearts and minds alike, providing inner motivation to expand their thinking abilities using Mind Lab's unique tools. Our students love to learn, and our parents love the results.
Who developed the Mind Lab curriculum?
Mind Lab was originally developed in Israel in the early 1990's by two international chess masters with Masters degrees in Education, Ehud Shachar and Dan Gendleman. Today, Mind Lab's research and development team includes experts in the fields of education, thinking games, humanities and social sciences, as well as computer science and engineering. We are constantly updating and improving the material in the learning program based on feedback from the thousands of educational institutions in the 35+countries that utilize the Mind Lab program. The Mind Lab program also has academic backing from a number of researchers and universities around the world, including Yale University in the U.S.
How is Mind Lab integrated into the school environment?
The Mind Lab program is very flexible. It can be an after-school, before-school or enrichment program. Mind Lab can also be integrated into your standard, school day curriculum. Classes can run one to five times per week and can be contracted for a school quarter, semester, or academic year. In all cases, a Mind Lab team, made up of our Educational Consultant and highly trained teachers, will customize a program for your school and implement it on a day-to-day basis. Mind Lab will supply all games, curricula, student workbooks and teachers necessary for the course.
What are the qualifications of the Mind Lab teachers?
All of our teachers are highly trained individuals with an education degree and Massachusetts teaching certification. In addition, all of our staff undergo an intensive 30 hour Mind Lab training course before they begin teaching, as well as ongoing training and professional development. We have a terrific group of dedicated, enthusiastic teachers waiting to meet your students' needs.
Does Mind Lab work?
Definitely! In a 2003 field study carried out by Dr. Donald Green at Yale University, children ages 8-12 of diverse socio-economic backgrounds who were taught Mind Lab meta-cognitive models improved their performance in problem solving tests from 69% to 88%, while the control group improved only 1 point during the research period. Additional studies at Yale demonstrated that the Mind Lab method significantly boosts math and verbal scores, as well as promoting children's social and emotional development.
What goes on in a Mind Lab class?
Each class follows the same basic format. The central theme of the lesson is discussed and the rules of the game are explained. Children then play the game in groups, followed by a teaching period where the meta-cognitive models are illustrated. Children then play the game again utilizing the new strategies. The lesson ends with a group discussion of the children's thoughts and the teacher's insight on how the models they've learned can be applied to every day life. In all the programs, emphasis is placed upon activities which combine movement, drama and stories, and which stress social skills as well as academic excellence.
Who can benefit from Mind Lab?
All children can benefit from taking Mind Lab courses. Whether they are academically advanced for their age or need a little push, whether they are in an enrichment program or have special needs, Mind Lab can work for them! The program is designed to enhance cognitive, social and emotional skills. Each course is designed to meet the needs and abilities of the students it is serving.
Who pays for Mind Lab?
A Mind Lab program can be funded either through direct pay by parents, or through school funding made up of grants, PTO support, school budgets, or after school funding. We are happy to work with your school department to set up the best financial scenario.
Who do I call to get more information on Mind Lab?
Our Educational Consultant Christina Cipriano will be happy to discuss setting up a Mind Lab program in your school. She can be reached by phone at 857-636-9444 or by email at christina@mindlab-newengland.com
Our Vision Theoretical Base ML in the School Environment
Curriculum Focus Research Projects